Dr Rodney Thomas Irving, MD, FRCS (C), FACS, DABS
2 July 1927 - 31 January 2011

Husband, father, grandfather, brother, mentor, friend and healer. Entered into Eternal Life with his family and long-time family friend, Sr Anita Tavera, by his side.
Pre-deceased by his parents, Dr I.S. Irving and Marie Long, his sister Rosamund and brother Timothy Lee. Survived by his loving wife of almost 57 years, Joan (Lorente), children Peter (Yolanda), Paul (Janice), Mary-Louise and Mary-Ann, and 11 grandchildren: Caitlin, Nicole, Kathleen, Brendan, Ben, Jamieson, Erin, Kelly, Shannon, Jonathan and Elizabeth. Also survived by brothers Gordon, Thomas, Bonar and Michael Bruce, and sisters Alice-Marie, Juanita, Colleen and Mary Paula. Born in Red Deer, raised in Lethbridge, Alberta, Rodney attended Catholic Elementary and High School there and at St Patrick’s College, Ottawa. He earned his Medical Doctorate at the University of Ottawa in 1955. He did a year of Residency in Medicine and Surgery at Shaughnessy Hospital, Vancouver and completed five and a half years of surgical training at Mt Carmel Mercy Hospital, Detroit, Michigan and the Leahy Clinic, Boston, Mass. During this period he was offered a Residency by the Harvard University Medical School but decided to go into Family Practice for 5 ½ years in Vancouver - interrupting his surgical training - in order to be able to treat “the whole family.” He returned to Detroit to complete his Surgical training at Mt Carmel then came back to Vancouver in 1965 to St Vincent’s Hospital where he became Chief of Surgery. He also practiced surgery at Mt St Joseph’s Hospital and Delta Hospital. When he retired from General Surgery in 1993 he practiced medicine in Cranbrook, B.C. at the Campbell Medical Clinic with Dr Morgan Campbell. Upon his permanent return to Vancouver he practiced at the Commercial Drive and Denman Care Point Clinics. Rodney was a member of the Serra Club and the Catholic Physicians Guild when it was formed by Fr Leahy, S.J. Many thanks to Fr Michael Martel, Fr Vincent LaPlante, Fr Larry Mackey and Br Tom Cavanaugh, the staff of the Irene Thomas Hospice in Ladner and Dr. Kim Chi and the staff of the B.C.C.A for their compassionate care.
Prayer vigil to be held Sunday February 6, 7:30 pm at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 3900 Arthur Drive, Ladner, where Mass of Christian Burial will follow on Monday February 7, 10:30 am. Reception will take place after the Mass in the school gymnasium. Interment to follow at St Peter's Cemetery, New Westminster.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his name can be made to the Vancouver Prostate Cancer Centre or the Irene Thomas Hospice, Ladner B.C.